Trump to loosen ban on bribing foreign officials

US President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order to pause prosecutions of Americans accused of bribing foreign government officials while trying to gain business in their countries.

According to a copy of a fact sheet seen by Reuters, the order is aimed at restoring American economic competitiveness by ordering "revised, reasonable enforcement guidelines for the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977."

"American national security depends on America and its companies gaining strategic commercial advantages around the world, and President Trump is stopping excessive, unpredictable enforcement that makes American companies less competitive," the fact sheet said.

The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to pause enforcement of the Act until she issues revised enforcement guidance that promotes American competitiveness, the fact sheet said.

"Future FCPA investigations and enforcement actions will be governed by this new guidance and must be approved by the attorney general," the fact sheet said.

The White House argued that US companies are harmed by "overenforcement because they are prohibited from engaging in practices common among international competitors, creating an uneven playing field," the fact sheet said.

The order mentions the need for strategic advantages in critical minerals, deep-water ports, and other key infrastructure or assets around the world to enhance US national security.

In 2024, the Justice Department and the Securities Exchange Commission filed 26 FCPA-related enforcement actions, and at least 31 companies were under investigation by year end, the fact sheet said.